by Dan Wolken, USA TODAY Sports

by Dan Wolken, USA TODAY Sports

Athletes competing in the upcoming Sochi Games have been cautioned about wearing team gear outside the secured Olympic zone, according to a U.S. Olympic Committee memo obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

"The U.S. Department of State has advised that wearing conspicuous Team USA clothing in non-accredited areas may put your personal safety at greater risk," said the memo, which includes several other common sense reminders related to foreign travel.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the contents of the memo, which was sent to athletes, friends and family.

"We've heard some stuff about if you're going to be outside the Olympic village, keep it mellow," said snowboarder Danny Davis from the X Games. "Don't be 'U-S-A! U-S-A!' or whatever, and wear some non-descriptive clothing and things like that. That's a little bit of a bummer. It's nice to be a real American when you're there, but that's all good. I'm just going to try to enjoy it."

A series of suicide bombings in southern Russia, likely set off by Chechen rebels who have previously threatened the Games, have raised concerns about security at the Olympics. Reports surfaced this week that Russia was looking for three potential "Black Widow" suicide bombers, including one who may have slipped into Sochi before heavy security measures were put in place in January.

The Russians have promised a heavily police presence surrounding the Olympic venues. But with the concentration of forces there, some worry that it creates other areas of vulnerability.And with each passing day, security concerns about the Winter Games grow.

On Jan. 10, the State Department issued a travel alert, encouraging U.S. citizens heading to the Games to "be aware of their personal surroundings and follow good security practices," while acknowledging there was no known specific threat to U.S citizens.

"I'm not too worried about it, 'cause I feel like we're the athletes so they're going to have the best security that we can have," snowboarder Kaitlyn Farrington said from the X Games. "I just think that they're going to take care of us, and I don't think we really have to worry."